Senior's Program

Kankakee County Training Center for Disabled Inc. started The Senior's Program in September 1993. Because the life expectancy has increased so much this century, people are living longer. Especially, this population needs extra assistance to have normalcy in their life.

The purpose of this program is to enhance an individual's daily living and communication skills. To maintain and possibly improve their functional skills through recreation and leisure activities. To provide them opportunities for community outings. To fulfill their socialization needs.

The main admission criterion for the program is the age. The consumers have to be 50 years and older. The majority of consumers that attends Senior's Program are from Shapiro Development Center, which is a state facility, and from community integrated group homes. The consumers that attend the Senior's Program are developmentally disabled and mentally retarded. They have other multiple disabilities such as mental illness, schizophrenia, types of schizophrenia, physical illness such as epilepsy, heart conditions, cerebral palsy, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Some individuals have vision and hearing impairment. Some are non-verbal, and some of them have medication-induced symptoms as tardive dyskinesia.

At present, 21 individuals are attending the program. Seven of them are wheelchair bound; one consumer needs a wheelchair while being transported to and from the bus. We have a consumer who is legally blind, and two others use two-wheel walker. Most of the consumers require one-on-one assistance for their daily living activities.

Our program day is scheduled considering consumers needs. Although, there is routine in schedule, they have choice in participating activities. Keeping in mind their attention span, the activities are scheduled at half an hour intervals. The day starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. The activities are planned with consumers on weekly basis, and choices of activities are given. They get two breaks, one in the morning, and one in the late afternoon; plus, they have lunch. The activities may include crafts, holiday crafts, collages, table/board games, card games etc. Gross motor activities: bean bag throw, ring toss, exercise, catch ball, kick ball, and so on. Birthday, holiday celebrations. Community outings are scheduled such as shopping for supplies, seasonal outings-Christmas shopping, Gallery of Trees. Lunches are planned at local restaurants. Consumers participate in leisure activities such as sing-a-long, listen to music, watch educational and entertaining videos. The center also plans few social events during the year, they are Halloween party, Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring/summer dance.